The Message Forum is an ongoing dialogue among classmates. The goal is to encourage friendly interaction, including interaction among classmates who really didn't know each other. Experience on the site has revealed that certain topics tend to cause friction and hard feelings, especially politics and religion. 

Although politics and religion are not completely off-limits, classmates are asked to be positive in their posts and not to be too repetitive or allow a dialog to degenerate into an argument. 

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Lowell Tuttle

Nice story

David Cordell

Lowell,

I didn't watch the special on the Astros' cheating scandal. Too depressing for me. And worse for Martha. Her family had season tickets for the Colt 45s and in the first few years at the Dome until her father died in '66. Her mother watched every Astros game on TV thereafter.

I am enjoying following the Rangers' pennant run. Good pitching beats good hitting. The Rangers have good hitting, and, even though they have lost some of their pitching, like deGrom, others are picking up the slack. Eovaldi and Montgomery were sharp against the Rays, but the Rays had their own injury issues. The Orioles will be a different story. They won 101 games (11 more than the Rangers and Astros) and were 49-32 at home.

Lowell Tuttle

David.   I'm one of a few who like both teams.   51% Astros...49% Rangers.

Post college pals and I went to a lot of those Rangers games...Especially the two years that Billy Martin was the manager.   That was good sports reading in the paper those days.

I remember one time he got caught/arrested or whatever coming out of a strip club somewhere there in the mid cities, I think.   Someone asked his wife at the time what she thought.   She said she didn't care where he got his appetite...just where he ate...

David Cordell

Travis Hunter doesn't have to worry that Henry Blackburn will hit him viciously and illegally again, so it is easier, though still difficult, to forgive. What about a woman who is frequently physically abused by her alcoholic husband? Can she forgive, knowing that more of the same treatment is forthcoming? With no clear and permanent change in behavior over a period of time, there is ongoing abuse. At what point does she decide to extricate herself from the situation so that the behavior ceases? With the passage of time, perhaps forgveness may come more easily. But it isn't reasonable to insist she remain in the situation and simultaneously grant forgiveness.

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

I finally have had time to read the most recent posts, specifically three:

The Travis Hunter article - I liked it.  Forgiveness on Hunter's part was grand.  He is a good soul as is Mr. Blackburn.  Great lessons to be learned here.

Ron Knight.  Yes, we all feel our age, some more than others.  5 years ago, I could eat what I wanted (probably a bad idea), drink what I wanted and was on no medication.  Now it has been a year and half since my last taste of any alcohol (I miss wine the most) and I have to watch sugar, plus I take three different meds for AFIB.  Still, I walk without pain, and as long as I don't over do exercise in the heat, I feel great.  I can't tell I have AFIB, it is very controlled.  I am lucky and I know it.

As for abusive spouses.  I have direct experience with this.  Before Danny, I found and married another man.  Bill.  Bill was 9 years my senior.  He had a dark side and when we argued he lashed out.  I was married to him 2 and half years.  When he hit me hard enough to black my eye and I found myself lying about it to my parents, I knew that I had to do something.  It was my father who came to me and asked what was stopping me from leaving him.  I told him it was the money.  We had just bought a house, and owed money on two cars to boot.  He told me not to worry about the money and move back in with them.  He gave me three months to move out and get my own place. I was 23 years old.  One week into a new job across town, I left and on election night 1973 hired a lawyer, Joe B Brown Jr.  And yes, I moved out three months later (mother wanted me to stay) and got an apartment in Farmer's Branch.

Do I forgive Bill?  No.  I forgave myself.  I forgave myself for making a mistake and having to start over.  I forgave myself for trusting Bill.  Once I breathed the air of independence and lived alone for a year I realized just how strong I could be.  Bill phoned me about 5 years later and hearing his voice on the phone actually made me nauseous.  I have never heard from him again. 

When I met Danny I saw a man who championed my strength, who encouraged me to be independent, who valued my intellect and was never threatened by it.  In turn, I did the same for him.  I guess you could say that having this experience changed my life for the better in so many ways that I don't regret the past at all. 

So sometimes it is best to forgive yourself.

Jan Alexander

Ronster, 

You should go on and have steroid (exray guided- only ! ) injections with Pain Management for your low back.  I have had 20 in various parts of my body. It will most likely make you feel better.   Try one , atleast.  It sucks feeling young at heart and old in body. Thoughts are with you. 

I have started out recently with,  " I am like an old car ; I need a complete tune up ",  when I go into a doctor's office. " My engine light is always on, my drive shaft is kaputt.  Transmission fluid needs to be flushed and replaced , brakes squeak , etc. 

SO : a joke

What did the janitor say when he came out of the closet ?

Supplies ! 

David Cordell

Tommy, I had already seen the Rangel video - powerful. The first video reminded me of the situation that I have shared relating to my aunt and her lowlife husband. Unfortunately, there was no happy ending for my aunt. It depresses me even to recall the situation.

Sandra, it saddens me to think that you endured abuse. I'm glad that, like the woman in the video, you found your way to a much, much better relationship.

Ron Knight

Thanks Jan,

I had the epidural steroid injection and it did not work at all. That's when the Spine Surgeon said that surgery would not work either ( could make it worse ) and referred me to Pain Management specialist. Plus $370 wasted on the steroid shot that insurance wouldn't pay. I tried PT and made it worse. The problem is the arthritis has destroyed my L-1 through L-5. The L-1 through L-5 have grown so large they are cutting off the spinal fluid and pinching the nerve. 

So thanks, I have tried all of those and they simply don't work. I had been misdiagnosed for over 3 years as a muscle related issue. Not until the Neurologist working on my feet with neuropothy ordered an MRI did the doctors find the L-1 through L-5 real reason for my back pain. There is no shot or PT that will help. I am just now starting with Pain Management and they are talking about the Ablation(sp)treatment that will go in using electronics to burn the nerve endings and therefore deaden the nerve hopefully for 6 months of relief. It will be an out patient situation that will last a good bit of the day. That's the next step towards some sort of relief.

Jan Alexander

David Cordell

Aargghh! Tough loss! Credit to OU.

Rangers beat O's, 3-2!!

Astros lead Twins3-0.

My wife and son at Longhorn Band practice at RHS yesterday.

Ron Knight

Thanks Jan for the OU win. Both Teams played their hearts out. It is just crazy when these two teams play each other in Dallas. Throw the records and rankings out the window. If you have not been to one of those games it is pure insanity for 4 hours normally. I've been to several. I think it took me two to three days to get my voice back each time. Your ears are still ringing an hour after you leave the stadium. Pure nuts.

I haven't looked at the schedule for next year, but I hope by us joining the SEC it doesn't mess up the rivalry game like it did when A&M joined the SEC. Texas vs A&M was a staple for so many years around Thanksgiving as had Nebraska vs OU. Those rivalry games should somehow be left alone. 

And before anybody says anything else, it's all the money!! Television contracts dictate college football and it's MEGA bucks!

Wayne Gary

Ron,

When UT decided to come up with their own "Sports Network"  without sharing the money and A&M went to SEC, the UT Athletic Director said "UT will never play A&M again".  That AD will now be eating his words. 

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

At last, political humor that is not one sided!

Rick Wilber

David Cordell

Lance Cantor is now proud father of a sophomore Golden Eagle Band member -- Christopher. Lance  reports having had fun as a Golden Eagle Band parent, attending the RHS pep rally on October 5 with lots of other parents. His photos of the pep rally and game are available at this link. PEP RALLY AND GAME PHOTOS Unfortunately, the pep was apparently insufficient as the Eagles lost to J.J. Pearce, 29-9.

CLICK HERE FOR PEP RALLY AND GAME PHOTOS

Ron Knight

Wayne,

I am glad that the UT and A&M rivalry may be brought back as Nebraska and OU never will be. Maybe they can get it scheduled again around Thanksgiving. Hope so.

Rick,

I'll definitely let you know about the Ablation procedure. As far as a transplant,no. My Nephrologist ruled it out because of my age combined with overall health. And he said the drugs to fight off rejection could kill me. So the only thing they have done is prepare me for dialysis. AND who knows, I may never need it. My Mom died at almost 94 of renal failure and never had dialysis.

Just a note to those that have responded directly to me; thank you all for the kind words, thoughts and prayers. It's very appreciated.

David Cordell

Sandra,

Loved the Bad Lip Reading video. Unfortunately, it is increasingly possible to create "reality" digitally. 

David Cordell

New York mayor Eric Adams goes to Mexico to discourage migration to the U.S.

Good luck. My guess is that he'll get no commitments and come back with a a few packages of Chiclets.

Jerry May

Happy Birthday Glenn Messmer!

Wayne Gary

I was reading my Grandmother Gary's memoir and was reminded she was born in 1898 at home on Richardson.  When were in HS the house was rhe "Burning Bush".  In 1898 it was the home of the station master of the Houston & Texas Central RR.

Lowell Tuttle

Wayne, that house was later the property of J W Campbell, at the time of the Burning Bush.   My dad was on the Session on 1st Presbyterian.   There was the Idea of The Bush, but where.   Campbell had plans to build a gun store on the property, is my memory, but agreed to "lease" it to the Church for the Burning Bush.   There was quite a "fight" whether to do it or not.   Dick Miller was the youth minister and was our supporter along with a bunch of other parents of youths in the youth ministry.   Alexis Peden sort of took over as the manager after the build out was completed by student/youth with a lot of help from parents in the building/contracting industry.  That house was old old...but I had no idea it was 1898 old.   That is pretty cool you grandmother was born there...

We (my participation was minor) built out a performance room, a snack bar/kitchen, some rap rooms (different than today's rap,) upstairs and a fire escape from the upper floors, as required.   It was quite an endeavor.   Mike Odom, Bob Ralph, Randy's Combs and Curtis...Steve Healy...some from the classes ahead of us...as it opened in our Junior year I think...

Dick Miller and wife were very close friends to my parents.

That place was very popular hangout and got a bit out of hand with hundreds of kids showing up for the "scene" it was.

The first night, I think, the performers were Mike Clark (e?) and Rusty ? Brown...They sang some acoustic Rolling Stones.   But, the most popular band, as I remember, was The Wedge with our very own David Weir on guitar and Michael Moore on drums....Inna Gadda Da Vida...still reverberates...

A lot of other performers.

Lowell Tuttle

The Cotton Bowl has 92,000 seats now.   I think that was my last OU game.   I actually walked all the way from East Grand and Bank to the other side of the Cotton Bowl.   I had a corny dog...sans mustard (it was a madhouse to even get to the friggin mustard.)  There were actually a few older people than me.   A bunch of folks had electronic trike carts.   I cannot imagine going there and using one of those.   

I had seat 10, and it was not a 10, it was probably a 5.   My knees would not fit in front of me.  I had to spread them out at a 45-50 degree angle.  I was able to sit on the back rail behind me though, so that's how I existed.   The first quarter took about 80 minutes to complete...On top of play under review stoppage, there were untold number of commercial breaks.   During the commercial breaks, a guy would go out on the field with a large electronic sign counting down the minutes until back from break.   It was 3 minutes or so...each time. 4 1/2 hour game.   

The crowd noise was deafining (at least when it went UT's way.)

Went inside the auto show and stopped at the first vehicle.   An F250 crew.  85,000.  It did have a step up for the bed...which I guess is nice.

David Cordell

Lowell,

Not a good weekend for my football teams: Cowboys, Horns, Eagles.

Rangers did well to take two in Baltimore. Great!

Stros gave up a split at home. Not good.

Wayne Gary

Lowell, I know the house was a gun store for a time. My borther and I ooed over several guns but did not buy any.

Jim Bedwell

Sandra,

GREAT - LOVED the lip reading and also that it was bipartisan - really funny, but unfortunately perhaps not all that far from reality. Like Mark Twain said, "Those that respect the law and love sausage should never watch either being made".

Lowell,

Whatever happened to Rusty Brown? Or his older brother Greg (class of '68, I think)? Do you know?